To send money through Zelle, you need three things: a checking or savings account at a bank or credit union that offers Zelle, a U.S. mobile phone number or email address to register with, and the recipient’s U.S. mobile number or email. There’s no standalone Zelle app anymore, so your bank’s mobile app or website is the only way to access the service.
A Bank Account That Supports Zelle
Zelle is built directly into the mobile apps and online banking portals of more than 2,200 banks and credit unions. You must have an eligible checking or savings account at one of these institutions to send money. There is no way to use Zelle with a prepaid debit card, a cash-only account, or a bank that hasn’t partnered with the service.
The standalone Zelle app was shut down on March 31, 2025. Before that date, people without a participating bank could download a separate app and link a debit card. That option no longer exists. If your bank doesn’t offer Zelle through its own app, you cannot enroll at all. Most major banks and many smaller credit unions participate, so check your banking app’s transfer or send-money section to see if Zelle is already there.
A U.S. Mobile Number or Email Address
When you enroll, you’ll register either a U.S. mobile phone number or an email address as your Zelle identity. This is how other people find you and how the system routes payments. A few rules apply:
- International phone numbers don’t work. Only U.S. mobile numbers are accepted.
- Landlines don’t work. You need a mobile number that can receive text messages for verification.
- 1-800 numbers are not eligible.
If you’ve previously registered a phone number or email with Zelle at a different bank, you’ll need to either transfer that registration to your current bank or use a different number or email. Each phone number or email can only be linked to one bank at a time.
The Recipient’s Contact Information
To actually send a payment, you need the recipient’s U.S. mobile phone number or email address, whichever they used to enroll. You don’t need their bank account number, routing number, or any other financial details. Zelle handles the routing behind the scenes based on the contact info.
This is also where you need to be careful. Double-check the phone number or email before you hit send. Payments to someone who is already enrolled in Zelle go through almost instantly, typically within minutes, and cannot be canceled once authorized. If you accidentally send money to the wrong number, there’s no built-in way to reverse it. Contact the recipient directly or call your bank, but recovery isn’t guaranteed.
If the person you’re sending to hasn’t enrolled in Zelle yet, the payment sits as pending for 14 days. During that window, the recipient needs to sign up through their own bank’s app using the phone number or email you sent the money to. If they don’t enroll within 14 days, the payment expires and the funds return to your account. And since the standalone app is gone, the recipient must bank at a participating institution to complete enrollment.
How Much You Can Send
Your bank sets the limits on how much you can send through Zelle per day and per month. These vary widely depending on the institution and sometimes on how long you’ve had your account. Daily limits at major banks typically range from $500 to $3,500, though some banks allow up to $10,000 per transaction for established accounts. Monthly limits generally fall between $5,000 and $20,000.
For example, Wells Fargo allows $3,500 per day and $20,000 per month. Bank of America ranges from $500 to $3,500 daily depending on account age, with a $20,000 monthly cap. TD Bank sets a $1,000 daily limit for instant transfers but allows up to $2,500 daily for scheduled transfers. Smaller banks and credit unions may have lower thresholds. Check your bank’s Zelle settings or contact customer service to see your specific limits.
New accounts almost always start with lower limits. If you just opened a checking account and enrolled in Zelle the same week, expect to be on the lower end until your account matures.
How to Send Your First Payment
Once you have all the pieces in place, the actual process takes about two minutes:
- Open your bank’s app or website and find the Zelle section, usually under transfers or payments.
- Enroll by entering your U.S. mobile number or email and verifying it with a code sent to that number or address.
- Choose a recipient by entering their phone number or email.
- Enter the dollar amount and an optional memo.
- Review and send. If the recipient is enrolled, the money arrives in minutes. If not, they’ll get a notification to sign up.
Zelle doesn’t charge fees for sending or receiving money. Your bank could theoretically add its own fee, but most don’t. The service is free at the vast majority of participating institutions.